"How dare she," Ciel strops as he storms down the hallway.
"Young master?" I follow behind him. He stops abruptly, swiftly turning to me and folding his arms across his chest.
"How dare she challenge my decision? Who does she think she is interfering and keeping a secret as big as that?"
"What do you mean?"
"Just hiding the fact that the manor is finished, that's all. Saying that I don't need you anymore, of course I need you." He blurts out.
I am slightly taken aback; I have never heard him use these words before.
"You need me?"
"Of course I need you Sebastian," He pauses. "You're integral to my plan for revenge." Ah yes his plan, that and nothing more.
"And your manor, I suppose you'll be wanting to go back?"
He hesitates and I see the thoughts in his mind whirling around inside of him.
"Yes, I want to go home."
"Master, I don't know what you must be thinking but wouldn't it be best to stay here?"
"No." He replies sharply.
I don't know what to say, he seems obviously agitated and I don't want to stoke the embers.
"I must attend to the dinner preparations, try not to be too mad at your Aunt, I understand where she is coming from in this instance."
"Do you?"
"Well she only wants what's best for you."
"And what's best for me is not to have you?" He sighs, his face almost crestfallen.
My heart thumps loudly in my ears. What is he saying? What does this mean? I have to shake this off this feeling before it takes me over.
"That's not what I'm saying," I quickly dismiss.
"Then what are you saying Sebastian? Tell me, do you want to end our contract?"
"No. No, that is the last thing I want to do." I pause for a moment, as I need to be careful.
"Then what is it? What do you want?" He implores.
I want to tell him exactly what's on my mind but I don't wish to scare him. I want every inch, every facet of him. I want to be the only thing he thinks about and desires, I want him to want me. I want all of those things and more but instead, I opt of a safer way out of this conversation.
"I want to help you realize your revenge." Well, that's also true.
"Nothing more?" He wonders. I'm not sure what he is trying to get out of me but I am sure it's not what I hope.
In any case, I nod to confirm. "Nothing more."
"I understand," He mutters. "Anyway, you should go and attend to the guests, they'll be waiting."
I bow politely and make my way back into the reception area. This may be a long night.
…
The guests have all arrived and are seated in the large dining room I had set up earlier. As it's a dinner party, everyone is elegantly dressed. I am more than impressed, but then again, this is a party at Anne Durless' and I wouldn't expect any less from her guests.
Amongst the crowd, there are a few people I recognize, like Mr. Lau who runs Kon Ron, a Chinese trading company, which, upon my research, I found was no more than a front for his actual trade, which is in narcotics – heroin to be precise. His steely hatchet maiden Ran-Mao who accompanies him everywhere stands at the back of the room, quietly observing everyone. Her face is stoic, giving nothing away but I can tell she's making mental notes, studying each of us.
Lau visits Dr. Durless often and occasionally helps us with the comings and goings of the underground. He is a man that likes to keep his cards close to his chest, although he always is trying to curry favor with Ciel. I know his trading in heroin is a lucrative business and if Ciel felt like it, he could snuff it out with the snap of his fingers. I also know that being around Ciel and trying to be useful is nothing more than a power play.
Strangely, for some reason or other, he seems to be good friends with Anne. I wouldn't have assumed they would run in the same circles but here they are, together at the same table, gossiping about the same people and laughing at the same old jokes they have laughed at during the various parties they frequently attend.
Another man I recognize almost instantly is the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis or head of the Metropolitan Police here in London, Sir Arthur Randall. A blustering older man who is frequently seen as the mouthpiece for the police, he is regularly on television or being quoted in the newspapers. He's also attended crime scenes I've committed on a various jobs, but unlike his counterpart, DCI Spears, he doesn't seem to recognize me.
Sometimes I act as a private investigator, looking for people who have come to this country and fallen off of the grid. This occasionally means I have to have some involvement with the police, which is how I met Spears. In any case, I like to leave the police tip offs, especially if the job concerns trafficking – which my recent jobs did before I became contracted to Ciel.
In any case, his being here makes more sense then Laus' especially as he sits on the boards of various charities Anne is a patron of; they clearly run in the same circles. Not to mention, he happens to be the boss of Annes' boyfriend, Grell Sutcliff.
Grell sits just left of Anne as Ciel sits on her right. He has short choppy cherry red hair, not unlike hers, a well fitted charcoal black three-piece suit and rectangular thin-rimmed glasses frame his face perfectly. His mannerisms are quite camp and he's careless, constantly knocking things over with his arms as he waves them around – using them to express himself when telling one of his various boring stories.
Ciel observes him for a while, and then loses interest with each tale he tells. To entertain himself, he picks at the food on his plate, maneuvering them around and separating the stray peas from the potato dauphinoise. I chuckle to myself as I watch this, he seems disinterested in every topic of conversation but being the well bred little gentleman he is, he at least feigns adequate interest, chiming in with an 'uh-huh' when a response was necessary. Truth be told, I think he is still a little mad from the exchange he and his Aunt had earlier.
One happy family they will never be.
As the evening progresses and the conversation flows, Ciel decides he should at least try to engage with them. He waits until there is a slight lull in the conversation and then sits upright.
"So how did you two meet?" He asks.
Grell looks over to Anne, almost surprised Ciel can actually speak and then he takes a sip of his wine.
"We met during a case. It was tragic really, these prostitutes had their reproductive organs just ripped out of them."
"Grell really, is this dinner conversation?" Anne interjects.
"Well, he asked." He waves his hand in the air, completely brushing off her concern. "Anyway, we bonded over our love of all things red, amongst other things – we just clicked, you know?"
"I see," Ciel nods, albeit half-heartedly.
Out of the corner of my eyes, I notice Sir Randall keeps staring at me and examining every move I seem to make.
"How do I know you?" He inquires.
"I have served the young master Ciel for almost a year now." I reply with a bright smile.
"That's not it, you seem familiar some how."
"He is a butler Sir Randall, no different than any other butler you must have seen." Ciel interrupts.
"That may be true but you look like someone."
Putting his fork down, Ciel glares at him. "Did my Aunt put you up to this?"
"Excuse me?"
"Questioning Sebastian like this, did she?"
"No, she didn't." Sir Randall tries to assure him but Ciel isn't having any of it and the atmosphere is starting to get tense; I know I am going to have to diffuse the situation.
"I suppose I just have that kind of face." I add as I walk past Anne and further away from Sir Randall.
"Oh nonsense Sebastian. You have such a distinctive, handsome face." Anne slurs as she coos, picking up her wine glass in the process. "I can see it."
"See what madam?" I inquire.
"I can see how Francis would find your mere existence to be indecent." She titters as she takes another sip of her wine.
Well, I can see the alcohol has finally kicked in, she seems to have dropped her earlier grievance with me.
Grell holds his hand up to get my attention. "Oh Sebby, would you be a dear an-"
There is a loud clank as Ciel drops his cutlery on table, hitting the plate on its way down.
"Ciel dear, are you alright?" Anne slurs again.
"W-what did you just call him?" He spits.
"Who? Sebastian?" Anne asks, obviously concerned over her nephews bizarre reaction.
Ciel slowly turns his head towards Grell with a slightly wild look in his eyes.
"Yes, what did you call him?"
"Oh sorry, I only gave your dear Sebastian a nickname."
"What was that nickname?"
"It was Sebby?" He replies, then turns to Anne. "Did I do something wrong?" He questions as she shrugs.
"Don't call him that, don't ever call him that again." Ciel hisses.
"Okay, I won't." Grell agrees. A silence falls over the table, as everyone - including myself, seems confused over what just happened.
Is there something wrong with the term Sebby? I wonder. Wait, that's right, that's what he called me when he was high. Does he remember something from that night? He can't have – can he?
Well, my, my – it seems my darling master might remember something after all. Now, I know I should let it go but I can have fun with this. I wonder, just how much does he remember?
Thinking about what I could do to check and see just what it is he may or may not remember, I see the table needs more wine. Walking around to the other side, I pick up the already opened bottle of red wine and start to make my way to each person, reaching behind them to refill their glasses. As I do this, I start to hum.
"Dee dum, dee dum dum dum dum dee dum…" I begin softly, my eyes slowly glance over towards Ciel who either cannot hear me or is choosing to ignore me. Either way, perhaps his returning memory is wishful thinking on my part. Maybe I'll try again as there is a gap in the conversation. "Dee dum, dee dum dum dum dum dee dum…" I continue, this time next to Anne who tilts her head to the side, her ears prick as she listens.
Ciel picks up his glass of water and takes a sip, maybe he doesn't remember after all.
"Sebastian, what are you humming?" Anne asks me, curiously. I finish pouring wine into Sir Randalls' glass and stand upright, facing her.
"It's a rhyme I heard a few months ago, I must admit, it's been stuck in my head ever since." I smile. Catching Ciel in my peripheral vision, I can see him snort lightly into water glass.
"What's it called? It sounds awfully familiar."
"It's The Teddy Bears' Picnic."
Ciel spews water across the table as he chokes.
"Ciel are you all right? What's gotten into you this evening?" Anne stands and goes to her nephew. He bobs his head up and down repeatedly.
"Y-yes, I'm fine. Please, sit down." He coughs and tries to clear his throat.
Grinning, Anne goes back to her seat. She grabs her napkin from on top of the table and lays it across her lap and then claps her hands together.
"I remember that song fondly." She beams. "I used to sing it to Lizzie and Ciel when they were little. Do you remember?"
"Not particularly." Ciel replied, clearing his throat.
"Oh, how does it go again?" She tries to remember and then she turns to me. "Sebastian, can you remember how it goes?"
"This isn't necessary Aunt Anne."
"Oh hush you, indulge me a little." She waves him off.
"Let's see," I start, "yes, I do remember. If you go down in the woods today you're sure of a big surprise…" I sing.
"That's right! If you go down in the woods today you'd better go in disguise…!" She sings along.
"For every bear that ever there was will gather there for certain because today's the day the Teddy Bears have their picnic." The table sings in unison before breaking into a fit of giggles whilst Ciel sits there with a sullen scowl plastered on his reddening face.
So, my little plan worked and you do remember some of that night. I know you can't remember everything but this little bit is enough for me.
Oh Ciel, I'm going to have so much fun torturing you – just you wait.
The Teddy Bears' Picnic - John Walter Bratton and Jimmy Kennedy